Laura Beth Konopinski
Within the Realm of Consideration:
The archival prints were created through a process of digitally collaging together photographs that I had
taken of the landscape where I was living with human figures. The photo session of the figures was done
over a period of several hours. We spread colored porcelain slip (porcelain clay and water mixed) over
their skin and I framed images of the slip and skin melding and changing together as the slip dried and
flaked away to reveal the body underneath. I then placed coldworked (sculpting glass in a solid state,
relatable to woodworking) clear glass lenses on top of the printed images, then photographed through the
lenses to capture further distortion of both landscape and figure. The final step was digitally collaging
together my selected photographs.
Perspective of change:
Each of the glass sculptures are created using many of the same techniques. I tend to start a piece with a
blown form that is then cut into sections. The flat glass levels are layered with images sandwiched
between multiple pieces of window glass. The figures are etched into glass, then colored with archival
inks and enamel. The sculptures are assembled in many sessions so that every component finds it’s place.
Purge:
This series emerged from me years after the death of my mom. Each piece within this series is based
around the decisions that I imagine my mother went through before she committed to taking her own life.
The use of mirror and reflections within each of these pieces are intentionally placed to ask for reflection
into our own daily decisions.